What We Do

What is a food system? And how do we work to rebuild one?

The food system is how food gets from the farm to your fork. It includes all the steps along the way: growing, transporting, processing, selling, and consuming food. To rebuild the local food system, Working Landscapes:

Helps connect small farmers to regional customers

Develops facilities and relationships that enable local food processing and transportation

In previously-vacant buildings in downtown Warrenton, NC, we have developed a food hub where local farm products are processed and distributed to regional consumers. Partnering with school districts across northeastern North Carolina, we work in cafeterias and classrooms to educate and excite students about healthy, local eating and active living.

We currently focus on rebuilding the local food system and increasing access to healthy, local food in our region. Through this work, we are helping to bring new life to downtown Warrenton by turning underutilized buildings into ventures that add value to locally grown meat and produce, and helping to reconnect our small town with the surrounding agricultural landscape.

Grow

Twenty local farmers and gardeners (and counting) supply FoodWorks

Students are tending school gardens at all eight Warren County Schools

We are growing fresh herbs at FoodWorks kitchen in downtown Warrenton

We have helped 3 Warren County farmers achieve Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification

Warren County High School garden: one of only two GAP certified school gardens in NC

Process

We transformed a former cotton gin/flour mill site into a produce processing facility

We purchased 19,000 pounds of local cabbage and collards in 2014-15

Our processing operation employs 12 local residents

In the FoodWorks kitchen, “extra” pieces of meat and produce become tasty soup stocks

Locally-raised hogs and cows butchered within our region for use in FoodWorks

Distribute

Via Farmer FoodShare, our chopped produce has been served in Durham and Chapel Hill childcare centers

Our Programs

Our programs offer creative and hands-on approaches to rebuilding the local food economy in the Warren County, NC region. Much of our work is accomplished through the Working Landscapes Food Hub, a pair of food processing facilities in downtown Warrenton that connect farmers and consumers. Read more about our programs below, and find out how to get involved in our work.